Recoil absorbing mechanism



Oct. 1,1963 v. A. BRowNlNG REcoIL ABsoRBING MECHANISM Filed July 24, 1961 United States Patent O "ice 3,105,411 RECIL ABSORBDIG MECHANlSM Val A. Browning, Ogden, Utah, assignor to Browning Industries, Inc., gden, Utah, a corporation of Utah Filed .luly 24, 1961, Ser. No. 126,205 13 Claims. (Cl. 89-17'7) This invention relates to repeating rearrns of the automatic or semi-automatic type and is concerned more particularly with an improved recoil absorbing mechanism for use with such firearms.

Repeating firearms of the type referred to herein are provi-ded with a barrel, which may be the entire barrel member or a portion thereof, which moves relative -to the frame in recoil when the piece is red. r[his recoil movement is advantageously used to cause the automatic or semi-automatic functioning of the gun. A representative firearm incorporating such a movable barrel is disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent No. 2,499,090 issued February 28, 1950.

While the movement of the barrel in recoil relative to the frame is utilized in the automatic lor semi-automatic functioning of the firearm, only 4a very small amount of travel of the barrel relative to the frame is required for this purpose and it is desirable to limit the amount of recoil movement to a small rangeV provided this can be done in 1a practical manner without introducing such disadvantages as excessive weight or susceptibility to breakage or the transmission of la violent or sudden kick to the person firing the gun.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved recoil absorbing mechanism for the purpose described which is of simple land rugged construction sand of light Weight and which incorporates a novel principle of operation such that la high-energy absorption rate is afforded Iand the barrel is brought to a halt in a short but smooth operation without strain on the mechanism or imparting a violent kick to the user of the lgun. included in this aim is the provision of a recoil absorbing mechanism Iwhich can be manufactured and installed at moderate cost and which is constructed and designed so as to be free from contamination, particularly with respect to the explosive `gases during `normal usage of the gun. Also included in this aim is the provision of a recoil absorbing mechanism which also functions to return the barrel to battery position and which accomplisrhes this function in a smooth nonviolent and nonabrupt manner and yet firmly holds the barrel in battery position when the gun is at rest.

Other objects will fbe in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

rIhe invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view partly broken away and partly in section of a firearm provided with a recoil absorbing'mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is -a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view ofthe recoil absorbing mechanism of FIG.V l.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the recoil absorbing mechanism, generally ldesignated by the numeral '110, is shown embodied in a firearm which may bepof the automatic or semi-automatic type and which comprises a barrel 12 having a barrel extension 14 that is mounted for reciprocation in a receiver :or frame 16. VFor -additional details of the gun, not describedt'herein, reference may be had to my prior Patent No. 2,499,090 mentioned above.

3,105,111 l PatentedOct. 1, 1963 Fixed to the receiver 16 and extending forwardly thereof beneath .the barrel 12 is `a conventional magazine tube 18 that is encased within the usual wooden forearm 20 and which has a forwardly extending housing end portion 19 which is closed at its forward end by a removable threaded cap 22. Depending downwardly from the barrel 12 adjacent the forward end .portion 19 of the magazine tube 18 is a guide sleeve or slide 24 which is mounted for slidable movement thereon as the barrel 12'moves in recoil relative to the receiver -16 upon discharge of the firearm. As this invention is equally applicable where the entire barrel or only a part thereof, such las the iiring chamber portion, recoils, the term barre is used herein in its generic sense and inclu-des both the entire barrel and just a portion thereof.

A pin 32 is iixed transversely within the magazine tube 18 between the rear magazine section having the usual magazine spring 28 therein and the forward recoil absorbing mechanism section, the pin being additionally supported by a reinforcing collar 34. Bearing against lthe pin 32 Within the magazine tube 18 is a circular wall member 36 having a conical protuberance -37 thereon for a purpose to be described later.

Disposed within the magazine tube 18 forwardly of the wall 36 and abutting the edge portion of the wall 36 is a resilient radially expansible casing or enclosure 39 comprising an assembly of a plurality of coaxial and radially contiguous, or nested, cylindrical members 41, the outer diameter of the assembly being normally less than the inner diameter of lthe magazine tube 18 so as to prov-ide room for radial expansion. The cylindrical members are circumferentially discontinuous as seen in FIG. 3 'and iare formed of resilient material, preferably a high-quality spring steel to enable them to be expanded radially outwardly without permanent deformation. Next Aadjacent the assembly 39 is a piston guide 38 having a central 'axially extending cylindrical opening 40 slidably receiving a reduced pistonV portion 42 on a piston member generally designated 44. For retaining the parts just described in assembled position within the tube extension 19 there is provided an inner sleeve 46 having its forward end abutting the cap 22 and its rearward end abutting a radial llange 48 on the piston guide which, in turn, engages the forward end yof the cylindrical assembly 39. Additionally, the sleeve 46 slidably accommodates an enlarged flange portion Stlon the piston member 44'. The piston member 44 is connected to the depending barrel sleeve 24 by a pin 54 which is accommodated by a pair of opposed longitudinally extending slots 52 in the magazine tube extension 19 and in the sleeve 46. With the barrel 12 and piston member 44 in the battery position shown in FIG. l, the depending barrel sleeve 24 covers the slot 52 to prevent foreign matter from entering therein.

Enclosed within the resilient enclosure 39 and interposed between the lWall 36V and the piston 42 there is provided a ilowable force transmitting medium, or packing, 62 which is substantially incompressible and which preferably may comprise ya plurality of solid particles, such las' large number of small, hard metal pellets 63, preferably having a 'spherical shape. Blasting shot having a diameter between .035 and .050 inch is a specific example of a material which is effective for this purpose. The small pellets provide 1a fluid effect substantially similar to that of liquids but with considerably more frictional resistance to ilow. They are particularly advantageous in that they do not present leakage problems f and therefore, givey the recoil absorbing mechanism considerable reliability over a long period of operation. 'If desired, a semi-solid lubricant such as graphite Vor grease may be included in the medium in adxnixture lwi-th the hard metal pellets.

When the barrel 12 and the piston member 44 recoil upon the discharge of the firearm, the force transmitting medium 62 transmits the force of the piston to the resilient expansible casing 39 which expands radially as the piston moves rearwardly, and the combination of cylindrical members 4l, plus the force needed to overcome the frictional resistance between these cylindrical members and the frictional resistance to flow of the pellets 63, act to dampen the recoil movement and absorb the energy thereof in la progressive manner. The conical design of the end wall member 36 aids in the viiow of the pellets and in directing the forces radially of the chamber and uniformly throughout.

The recoil movement of the piston and hence of the barrel is preferably limited to a short distance of the order of approximately one-half inch land, inasmuch as it is desirable to make the entire recoil absorbing assembly as compact as possible, this movement limitation can best be accomplished by having the area of contact by the resilient enclosure 39 with the medium `62 substantially greater than the contact area by the piston face 65 with the medium, Iand by using cylindrical members 4l `with resilience and friction characteristics appropriate for ensuring that they move outwardly during recoil only several thousandths of an inch. Upon termination of the recoil movement, the resilient enclosure 39 -will again contract to its original size, thus applying a return force to the piston through the medium 62 and returning the barrel to its battery position. During coun-ter recoil a rapid and violent return movement of the barrel is prevented by the frictional resistance between the cylindrical members 4l and bet-Ween the pellets 63. Yet, the recoil mechanism can be adapted to maintain the barrel firmly in the battery position by providing the resilient members 41 with a slight initial outward deflection.

lt can therefore be seen that the recoil absorbing mechanism of this invention provides a high rate of fabsorption of recoil energy while decelerating the recoil movement evenly and smoothly without causing undue stress upon the firearm and thereafter returns the barrel and maintains it in its battery position. Additionally, the recoil absorbing mechanism of this invention is of economical and durable construction zand is readily adaptable to a variety of types of firearms.

As `will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described lwill become readily apparent without ldeparture from the spirit 'and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. ln a firearm, a frame member, a barrel member movable in recoil relative to the -fratme member, and a recoil absorbing mechanism between the members comprising a resiliently expansible chamber connected to one of the members, a piston connected to the other of the members and having an end portion extending into the chamber, and a substantially incompressible iiowable force ltransmitting solid medium lling the space Within the chamber and engaged by the end portion of the piston.

2. The mechanism se-t fonth in claim l wherein the resiliently expansible chamber comprises a radially expandible split metal tube.

3. The mechanism set forth in claim l wherein the force transmitting solid medium comprises a plurality of pellets.

4. In a firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, and :a recoil absorbing mechanism between the frame and barrel comprising a cylindrical chamber fixed to the `frame having a peripheral Wall formed of a plurality of split metal tubes arranged in nested relationship, La piston fixed to the barrel for movement therewith and having van end portion extending into the chamber, and a packing within the chamber engaged by the end portion of the cylinder comprising a plurality of metal pellets.

5. The mechanism set for-th in claim 4 wherein the metal pellets are blasting shot having a diameter in the range of .035 to .050 inch.

6. In a hrearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, and a recoil absorbing mechanism between the frame and barrel comprising a radially expansible chamber having an end wall secured to the lframe and ia peripheral wall comprising a circumferentially discontinuous metal tube, a piston fixed to the barrel for movement therewith extending into the chamber from the end opposite said end wall, and :a packing in the chamber comprising a plurality of solid pellets.

7. The mechanism set forth in claim 6 wherein said end wall is formed with a conical protuberance extending into the chamber.

8. ln a firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, and a recoil absorbing mechanism between the frame and barrel comprising an end wall secured to the frame, a plurality of split metal tubes in nested relationship having one end abutting the end wall, a piston guide abutting the other end of the tubes comprising an end wall having a piston receiving opening therein, a piston extending into said opening and fixed to the barrel for movement therewith, and a packing of metal pellets within the chamber formed by said tubes and end walls.

9. ln a firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, a tubular housing mounted on the frame parallel to the barrel, an end wall fixed in said housing, a plurality of longitudinally split metal cylinders in nesting relationship within the housing and having one end abutting said end wall, a piston guide abutting the other end of the cylinders, a piston fixed to the barrel for movement therewith and extending through the piston guide, and a packing of metal pellets within the cylinders between the said end wall and the piston.

10. iIn a firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, a tubular housing mounted on the frame parallel to the barrel, a slide on the housing and secured to the barrel for movement therewith, a piston in the housing connected to the slide for movement therewith and extending rearwardly within the housing, a first end wall in the housing having an opening accommodating the piston, a plurality of nested split metal cylinders disposed rearwardly of the first end wall, a second end wall rearwardly of the cylinders and secured to the housing having a tapered protuberance extending into the cylinders, and a packing of metal pellets in the space between the end walls.

ll. In a firearm having a frame and a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, a recoil absorbing mechanism between the frame and the barrel comprising a chamber having an end wall secured to the frame and a radially expansible peripheral wall, and a piston fixed to the barrel and extending into an opening in the opposite end wall of the chamber for reciprocal movement therein, and a substantially incompressible, flowable medium filling the space within the chamber for transmitting force between said piston and said radially expansible peripheral wall.

l2. The mechanism as set forth in claim l1 wherein the force-transmitting medium is under an initial compression so as to expand the peripheral wall of the chamber outwardly a limited amount to provide a reaction force for firmly securing the barrel in its battery position under other than recoil conditions.

13. ln a firearm having a frame and a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, a recoil mechanism comprising a tubular housing mounted on the frame parallel to the barrel, an end wall fixed to the housing, a radially expansible peripheral wall formed of a plurality of longitudinally split metal cylinders arranged in nesting relationship Within the housing with the longitudinal slits thereof being circumferentially spaced, a clearance being provided between the outer of said split metal cylinders and the tubular housing, one end of the metal cylinders abutting said end Wall, a piston positioned in an aperture provided at the other end of said cylinders for reciprocal rmovement therein, said piston being fixed to the barrel for movement therewith, and a flowable, substantially incompressible medium filling said cylinder for transmitting References Cited in the iiie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor Sept. 20, 1955 Browning Apr. 16, 1957 Simpson Dec. 30, 1958 

1. IN A FIREARM, A FRAME MEMBER, A BARREL MEMBER MOVABLE IN RECOIL RELATIVE TO THE FRAME MEMBER, AND A RECOIL ABSORBING MECHANISM BETWEEN THE MEMBERS COMPRISING A RESILIENTLY EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER CONNECTED TO ONE OF THE MEMBERS, A PISTON CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF THE MEMBERS AND HAVING AN END PORTION EXTENDING INTO 